All posts by Miss Sherlow

Anytime Anywhere Learning, Digital Learning Week 2017, Primary 5, Primary 7, Technologies, Uncategorized

Developing Digital Detectives in P5B

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We are learning to identify reliable sources online

– I can state what makes a source reliable
– I can spot signs that a source might not be reliable and justify my opinion
– I know the importance of double checking the facts I find online

To celebrate National Digital Learning Week, P5B became Digital Detectives and were learning all about how to spot the truth online. We discussed the different ways we can find out information and, as we live in a digital age, we realised how much we rely on the internet to find out facts and help us with research. However, we are also aware that we can’t believe everything we read online! We learned about lots of different ways that you can check if a source is reliable, for example, by looking at the date it was published or updated, considering the credibility of the author, and double checking the facts using a least one other site. We were given a range of QR codes and URL links and we had to use our detectives skills to work out whether or not we could trust each site.

In addition to this, we have also been receiving coding lessons from Sean and Ben in Primary 7 to celebrate Digital Learning Week. We had been using Hour of Code to learn about the language of programming, and then we heard that P7 were becoming Scratch experts so asked them to share their skills with us.In our first lesson, they helped us to explore the features of Scratch, and in the second lesson they extended our skills and helped us to begin to create a simple game. By the end of our two lessons, we were even able to teach each other following learning conversations with our experts.

We have also been using our own and the school’s devices to take part in the Scottish Sumdog contest this week to develop our mental maths skills.

Digital Learning Week 2017, Events, Maths & Numeracy, Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 5, Primary 7, Technologies

Digital Learning Week: Sumdog Contest

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P1-7 have been entered to take part in Sumdog’s special Scottish contest to celebrate Education Scotland’s National Digital Learning Week. This runs from 12-18th May and can be played at both home and at school using the Sumdog website or app. All pupils should have their Sumdog log in their homework diary/ book.

The children have to answer 1000 questions and their score is based on accuracy, not speed or winning games. There are also prizes to be won and certificates will be given out at assembly for those children in the top 50 from across Scotland.

Good luck everyone!

Digital Learning Week 2017, Information for Parents, Internet Safety, Technologies, Useful Websites

Digital Learning Week: Parental Controls Advice

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We know that children can be bothered by things they see online, and filters can be a helpful tool in reducing the chances of coming across something upsetting.

However, please remember that no filter or parental controls tool is 100% effective, and many of the risks that young people face online are because of their own and other’s behaviour. It is therefore important to talk to your children about staying safe online and make sure they know that they can turn to you if they get into any difficulty.

Please use the two links below to find out more about how to set up filters on your home internet to help prevent age inappropriate content being accessed on devices in your home:

https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/parents-and-carers/parental-controls-offered-your-home-internet-provider

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/parental-controls/

Maths & Numeracy, Primary 5

Probability in P5B

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Learning Intention: We are learning to talk about how likely something is to happen and can order events on a simple probability scale

  • I can talk about how likely something is to happen using a wide range of vocabulary
  • I can order events on a simple probability scale
  • I can create my own simple probability scale and place events on this

In maths this week, P5B were learning all about probability. We focused on the key vocabulary of the topic, using words such as certain, good chance, even chance, unlikely and impossible to describe different events. We found it more difficult than we thought we would to think of examples that were impossible, although we were pretty sure that none of us would be eaten by a dragon our way home from school!

We had to order given events on a probability scale, as well as adding our own examples. There was lots of rich discussion going on as some of us had very different answers to certain statements based on our likes and dislikes and our lifestyle habits. We also took part in a probability Sumdog challenge. We look forward to learning more about chance and uncertainty, unless we were all eaten by dragons after all!

Anytime Anywhere Learning, Events, Primary 5, Primary 7, Technical Troopers, Technologies

Dishing Out Our Digital Knowledge

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Today, representatives from Eastertoun Primary visited our school to find out some of the ways that we use digital technologies to enhance our learning. Primary 5B showed our guests how we share our achievements on our iAchieve blog, as well as how we have used some of the Glow tools to support and challenge us across the curriculum. We shared how Bring Your Own Device works in Mid Calder, and also gave them a tour of our class Yammer pages, explaining the different ways in which we have used these.

Next, pupils from P6 and P7 who were involved in the process of MCPS becoming a Bring Your Own Device school shared this journey with our visitors. This offered an excellent opportunity for questions to be asked and answered by pupils from both schools. Our guests also popped into Primary 4B who shared their new knowledge of the language of coding with them.

The visit ended with a chat with some of our Technical Troopers who explained some of their roles and responsibilities and how they have helped to support digital learning across the school.

We hope that our guests found their visit valuable and we look forward to hearing how they progress in their own journey using our new collaborative Yammer page.

Interdisciplinary Learning, Primary 5, STEM 2017

Mission Accomplished!

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As part of their IDL context, Kidnapped, P5B have been working hard in their investigation teams to compile, sort and analyse the evidence in the case of the missing Green children. Now, we’re proud to announce that we have solved the mystery! In the lead up to the discovery, we had to take part in a series of missions:

Mission 12: The Hideout
The kidnapper got in contact with Chief Anderson and we were given one hour to meet their demands. We listened to a voice recording of the message the kidnapper left, and although their voice was heavily disguised, we were still able to get some clues. Chief Anderson also gave us a link to a map that the Special Police Squad had put together following their investigations in Wick. We used Google Earth to look at each place closely, and linked it with clues from the phone message. Based on the evidence, we decided to lead the police squad to an abandoned hut in the woods and waited for news.

Mission 13: A Final Clue
We learned that our suspicions were correct and the children were found safe in the abandoned hut- phew! They were discovered along with one final piece of evidence- a bank statement left by the kidnapper. After analysing the final clue, we had our suspicions about Martha Goodwater due to the payment into her account from Save the Wildlife and the purchase of walking boots. But, we pulled together all of the intelligence we had been gathering throughout our investigations, and most of us still believed that this pointed towards Austin Black- the tyre track, the handwriting analysis and his police interview was hard to ignore!

However, a final package containing CCTV footage from Green Manor was delivered, and it was confirmed that Martha was the one who took the children! We’re extremely glad that the Green children are safe and sound, and we hope that the police team manage to catch Martha quickly!

Maya commented, “I really liked the Kidnapped topic. I liked that you had to solve a mystery and I really liked the experiments we did. I did suspect Martha at the end but I thought it was Austin Black or William Baker.”

Ben said, “I really liked the topic but I still think there is a bit more to it. I think it wasn’t just Martha Goodwater, I think all of the suspects were involved. I think they were walking round the other side of the house so they weren’t on the CCTV camera.”

Rebekah added, “I liked learning about what it is like for people being kidnapped and what the police have to do to solve crimes.”

Community, Events, Interdisciplinary Learning, Primary 5, STEM 2017

Cracking the case with the Constable

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Today, Primary 5 had a special visit from Constable Graham McKenzie who gave us an insight into the different roles the police would play in an investigation similar to the one in our IDL context, Kidnapped. He explained different useful ‘intelligence’ or clues that the police would look for at a crime scene, and how they would gather the evidence. He also explained how he and his colleagues might use this to solve a crime and catch a suspect.

Constable McKenzie also gave examples of the different roles he has taken on within the police, and examples of crime scenes he has attended. We also had the opportunity to touch some of the vital equipment an officer requires to keep themselves and others safe. We even got to try some of it on- the body armour was much heavier than we expected it to be!

A big thank you to Constable McKenzie for coming to talk to us and help us with our investigations.

Events, Interdisciplinary Learning, Primary 5

P5 Trip to Dynamic Earth

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On Thursday, Primary 5A and Primary 5B took a trip to Dynamic Earth to consolidate our learning about natural disasters. As well as feeling the ground shuddering as a molten lava flow sped towards us as we watched volcanoes throw clouds of ash and gas into the sky, we also had the chance to travel back in time, touch an iceberg and fly above the Polar ice caps. We took part in a workshop where we were able to show off our knowledge of different natural disasters, as well as learn new and interesting facts as we created our own tornadoes, held real moon rocks and tried to construct a building that would withstand an earthquake.

Thank you to our parents helpers for your help throughout- what a fantastic trip!

Community, Events, Nursery, Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 5, Primary 7, STEM 2017, Useful Websites

Building Site Safety

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Today, Mid Calder Primary had an important talk from Stephen from Hadden Construction, the company who are building our new nursery. He showed us the plans for the nursery, described what it will look like, and spoke to us about some of the equipment that will be used to build it. We also learned about the different careers people can have in the construction industry. He also taught us, very importantly, about the potential dangers found on a building site, and how to keep ourselves safe.

Stephen also introduced a whole competition to design a poster about building site safety. Hadden Construction have very kindly donated money to the school for prizes, so we are very excited to take part and to share what we have learned about how to stay safe.

If you want to learn more about building site safety, visit Ivor Goodsite’s website: https://www.ivorgoodsite.org.uk/kidszone/